Improvement in signs



. H. PETRI-E Sign No. 209,583. Patented Nov. 5, I878.

WITNESSES INVENTOR A44 ATT RN EYJ,

N-PEIERS, FHOTO-UTHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D C.

Nrrnn STATES HORACE rnrniaor PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SIGNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,583, dated November 5, 1878 application filed March 26, 1878.

formed in accordance with my improvement,

and ready for application to practical use.

My invention consists in applying gilded or painted mica letters, designs, or ornaments to a backing of thin india-rubber, leather, or other suitable flexible material in such manner that said backing shall extend beyond the edges of the mica, to protect them from injury and constitute the shading, and also afford a margin for the application of an adhesive substance by which to secure the letter, design, or ornament to a glass or other surface, as I will now proceed to describe.

In the drawing, a a a. a represent the outline of a block-letter formed of flexible material, the face ofthe letter (shown at H) being formed of mica, painted or gilded, and the shading B being formed by the surface of the flexible material not covered by the painted or gilded mica. This letter may be applied on the front side of any transparent or opaque surface by wetting, pasting, painting, ce'menting, or otherwise suitably attaching the back of the flexible material to such surfaces; or it may be applied to the inner side of aglass door, window, sign, show-case, or other transparent support by cementing around the edges or margin of the flexible backing, or on the face of both, thereby making a permanent fastening. It may be temporarily applied to the inside or outside of glass by wetting the face or back of the letter and pressing it on the glass, so as to exclude the air from be tween the letter and the glass, or any other surface from which the air can be excluded.

Any suitable water-proof cement, oil, paint, varnish, or other substance that willhold th'e flexible material or mica to the supportingsurface and exclude air and moisture from getting between the letter or flexible backing and the supporting-surface will answer the purpose.

The advantages of this construction are numerous, and prominent among them are the following Ijirst, it is more durable than any other lettern Second, it can be afflxed to glass, marble, iron, paint, &c., permanently or temporarily, so as to be removed at will. Showmen and others advertising temporarily in any place are able, by reason of this system, to make a beautiful and attractive display of gilded or colored lettering on show-windows in places where they are to exhibit, and to remove such lettering and use them in other places, andas often as they may desire.

Third, the letter is weather, water, and'acid proof, and therefore has great advantage for labels, &c.

Fourth, being flexible, it. adapts itself to uneven surfaces, and it is not so easily broken as glass or as a wholly mica letter. Mica letters cannot be kept in stock, as they become brittle; but these improved letters can be kept for any length of time.

Fifth, being held to the glass (when permanently affixed) by water-proof cement, paint, or other substance that will resist water, this improved letter is effectually protected against the sweating of the windows, which has been found to be one of the greatest objections to gilding on glass.

It willbe observed that the gilded part of the letter is surrounded on all sides by a greater or less surface of flexible material. When the letter is to be attached permanently the edges of the letter around the gilded or painted mica letter may be coated, either 'at the time of manufacture or afterward, with any suitable adhesive substance, which, when melted or used while in the adhesive state, will attach itself to the glass or other supporting-surface so as to form an air-tight joint therewith, thus protectingthe gilded or painted mica from air and moisture and preventing all necessity of applying the cement to'the mica.

It is obvious that this improvement is applicable to the attachment of any design, figure, or ornament, as well as lettering, and that the same material can be used for buttons and jewelry. 1 a

What I claim is 1. The combination, withapainted or gilded mica letter, design, or ornament, of a thin backin g of india-rnbber, leather, or other suitable flexible material, extending beyond the edges of said mica to protect the latter from injury and constitute the shadingof the letter, design, or ornament, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described mode of lettering,

temporarilyor permanently, by attaching mica letters or ornaments (gilded or painted) to flexible material or back, and causing the back or the extension beyond the mica letter of the back to adhere to the surface of the glass or other material to be lettered, substantially as described.

HORACE PETRIE. Witnesses:

WM. B. PAXSON,

MAHLON B. PAXSON. 

